Ryan Clarke believes Oxford United will be in safe hands while he recovers from a foot operation as Max Crocombe prepares for a run in the side.

The surgery means the 32-year-old goalkeeper will be on the sidelines when the squad regroup for the first time later this week for fitness tests.

Clarke is expected to miss pre-season and could be on the sidelines for the first month of the new Sky Bet League Two campaign.

While U’s boss Gary Waddock will closely watch how Clarke’s recovery progresses, if a loan keeper is required for the opening games, it will be as a back-up to Crocombe.

The New Zealander, who turns 21 in the opening week of the season, has had to be patient.

After keeping three successive clean sheets at the end of the 2012-13 campaign, he did not play a minute of first-team football last season as Clarke excelled.

But United’s No 1 has the utmost confidence in his teammate.

Clarke said: “Max has got all the attributes to be a top keeper.

“He’s at an age now where he needs to be tested in pressure situations.

“It’s a good chance for him and he’s highly rated here.

“I hope he does brilliantly if he’s given the chance, because we want the club to have a good start.

“He’s been great for me since he’s come through.

“At the same time I will be looking to get fit, but I won’t take it for granted that I will get my place back.”

When it became clear last month the U’s No 1 needed an operation, Waddock quickly made it clear Crocombe, who played at the Under 20 World Cup for the Junior All Whites last summer, would fill the gap.

Clarke thinks his understudy would benefit from both the advance warning and the prospect of a prolonged run in the side.

He said: “If the manager has told him I think that’s a good situation for Max.

“It will be good for him to get his head round and he can fully concentrate on getting right for pre-season.

“It will give him a boost.”